ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for China, declaring that Islamabad stands with Beijing “in good times and in bad.”
In an interview aired on Thursday by Chinese broadcaster CGTN, the president — who visited China earlier this month — said his visits to the neighbouring country were always meant to convey goodwill. “China is the future, and all of the East will work with China,” he remarked.
Speaking on Beijing’s Global Governance Initiative, Zardari underscored respect for sovereignty as its central principle. “Global governance means I cannot walk into any other country, nor can any other country walk into mine. They have to respect my territory, and I shall respect theirs,” he said.
The president stressed that Pakistan’s ties with China were beyond transactional. “We are all-weather, iron-clad brothers — joined at the hip.
That is how close we are, and that is an opportunity,” he observed, adding that wherever he traveled internationally, his first position was to advocate respect for China, its people, and its technology.
On future cooperation, Zardari said the two countries did not need a “marshal mindset” but an “economic mindset” to ensure peace and development.
Discussing the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he described the project as a “futuristic gift” to coming generations. He emphasized the strategic importance of Gwadar Port, calling it China’s closest access point to the Arabian Sea and global trade routes. “One day, generations will thank both the Chinese and Pakistani people for thinking about that port,” he said.
He added that economic growth was key to national unity and stability, noting that ensuring security in Balochistan was essential for maximizing the benefits of CPEC and regional connectivity.
